Contact apparatus for electric-traction systems.



No. 789.340. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. E. SPERRY & D. P. BRODBRIGK. CONTACT APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC TRACTION SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4,1904,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 789.340. PATENTED MAY 9. 1905. E. SPERRY 6: D. F. BRODERICK.

CONTACT APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC TRACTION SYSTEMS. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 4,1904.

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PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. E. SPERRY & D. F. BRODERICK.

3 SHEETB-SHEET 3.

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CONTACT APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC TRACTION SYSTEMS.

STATES Patented May 9, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

ELLSVORTH SPERRY, OF SOUTH WINDSOR, AND DAVID FELIX BRODERIOK, OF HARTFORD, OONNICTIOUT.

CONTACT APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC-TRACTION SYSTEMS- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,340, dated May 9, 1905. Application filed N 6 w14, 190 Serial No. 231,337.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ELLSWORTII Srnnnr, residing at South \Vindsor, and DAVID FELIX BROD'ERICK, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Contact Apparatus for Electric-Traction Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates particularly to apparatus for use on electric railways employing the third-rail system. In systems of this character it is often desirable to run cars interchangeabl y from one road to another. the height of the third rail or its distance from the running-track is not the same on the two roads it is difiicult to use the contact device intended for one road upon the third rail of the other, and vice versa.

.It is our object to provide a construction which may conveniently be employed for effecting electrical contact on the third rail of either of two difl'erent roads and for automatically throwing the contacts into and out of position at the proper time as the car runs from one road onto the other. In its preferred form our invention consists in the employment of an apparatus having two movable operative contact faccs or shoes together with means for holding them suitably in position and also automatically throwing the shoes or contact-faces alternately into and out of operative position as the car is run from one road to the other; 7

Details of one form of apparatus embodying the principles of our invention are illustrated. in the accompanying three sheets of drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the connecting ends of the tracks of two roads, their third rails, and a car with our apparatus installed, the view being largely diagrammatic. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of the contact device of our invention with its supporting-beam and connections, one of the contact-shoes being in operative position. Fig. & is a view of the rear side with the other contact-face in operative position.

In case Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the same on the plane of the line m a: of Figs. 3 and i, the parts being shown in dotted lines in the position of Fig. 3 and in full lines in the position oi Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an end view of the device and section on the plane of the line jl/ 1 Fig. i, the contact-shoe, however, beingin a slightlydepressed position as it would appear when not resting on the third rail.

1 indicates the body of a car of any suitable construction. Its method of operation is immaterial to this invention, and it will be obvious that it may be employed in the multiple-unit system of control, if desired.

2 indicates the ordinary track or runningrail for the two roads. The type of runninggear, however, is immaterial. The ends of the tracks are shown continuous; but it will be obvious that the two roads might be joined by any switch.

3 indicates one of the third rails for providing one member oi the electrical circuit to the power-house. These third rails are sometimes provided on one side of the track, sometimes on the other, and sometimes alternately in sections. Suitable guardrails may be employed as common both for the tracks and for the third rails.

4 is one of the shoes having a contact-surface for connection or cooperation with the third rail 3. The particular type of shoe 4: herein illustrated being on a long arm is particularly adapted for use on covered or protected third rails.

5 indicates a third rail of a different road, which is of considerably greater height than the third rail of the first road and much nearer to the track 2. There is usually some distance between the ends of the third rails of the different roads, and at such places the customary guard-rails or other projecting structures will be omitted.

6 is the second shoe, having a contact-face for engagement with the third rail 5. ltwill be obvious that there would never be occasion for these two contact-shoes i and 6 to he in operation at the same time.

7 is a guide-rail, track, or member having a groove for automatically throwing the contact-shoes into and out of operation as the car passes from the tracks of one road to those of the other. This guide member is preferably constructed on a gradual spiral curve and has approximately a turn of ninety degrees within a distance of, say, twenty to forty feet. The ordinary momentum of the car should be sufficient to carry it through a greater distance for shifting the contact-shoes, and hence the guide member need not be in the electric circuit. This invention contemplates that the guide member may be in circuit with the third rails, so that it will electrically bridge the same or substantially so. The juncture of the two roads may be on a straight line or a curve. In the latter case the guide member would have a compound curve determined by the curve of the road at the juncture, the angle through which the shoes must swing, and the distance within which the contacts must be shifted.

8 represents a beam for supporting the parts of the contact member. This is preferably rigidly connected to the trucks; butits method of connection is immaterial.

9 is a pivot rodor shaft suitably sup ported in hangers attached to the beam 8.

lOisaframe pivotally mountedon this shaft and carrying the contact-shoes 4t and 6. These two shoes are preferably cast in one piece and attached to the frame 10 by suitable bolts or other means. In this way when worn the con tact-shoes may be readily removed without interfering with the other parts of the structure.

11 indicates a cable or wire for effecting the electrical connection. It preferably passes downward through the beam 8 and is coiled around the shaft 9, havingone end brazed or soldered into or intimately connected with the socket member 12.

13 is a pin ormeans for attaching the socket member 12 to the frame 10. This affords a convenient means of electrical connection which is not interfered with by the removal or attachment of the contact-shoes or by their normal or shifting operation.

14 is an abutment or body which surrounds the shaft 9 at least on two sides, the rear and the lower.

15 15 are buffers, which are interposed between the opposite ends of the abutment 14: and the adjacent arms of the frame 10. The frame 10 while it has a longitudinal movement with relation to the shaft 9is restrained within limits by the yielding buffers, so that the parts are not likely to be injured by a glancing blow applied longitudinally. Such a slight blow often occurs as the contact rides up upon the end of the third rail as electrical connection is effected. f 16 is a plunger or pressure member mount- 1 ed in the frame 10 and adapted to coact with either the face 17 or the face 18 of the abutl ment 14:. The spring 19 presses this plunger into its operative positions.

20 is a rod attached to the plunger 16 and having set-nuts 21 secured on a screw-threaded portion below the contact member. hen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5, where the shoe 4: rests upon the rail 3, the spring exerting a pressure upon the plunger 16 tends to preserve electrical contact, since the plunger bears upon one edge of the face 17. The tendency of the plunger is always to take an even bearing or seat upon the face 17, which is inclined or disposed angularly with relation to the upper contact-surface of the third rail 3. hen the shoe 4 leaves the end of rail 3, the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 6.

When the car runs from the track of the first road to the track of the second road, the contact member is thrown into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5, the plunger 16 yielding and slipping around from the face 17 to the face 18 as the frame 10 is rotated. The face 18 is also inclined at an angle relatively to the contact-surface of the third rail 5, so as to provide an eccentric bearing for the plunger. A spring-pressure is thus applied to hold the shoe 6 in contact. All the parts of the mechanism are made strong, but as compact as possible, so as to avoid interfering with the guard-rails, switches, signals, and other parts of the road-bed or system.

The spring-controlled plunger serves to hold the contact device either yieldingly upon the rail or in its normal disengaged position.

Obviously the dimensions and arrangements of the parts may vary to suit different conditions. The difierence in height of the third rails of the two roads is represented by the difference in distance between the planes of the faces of the two contact-shoes and the axis of the shaft 9, while the horizontal distance between the third rails is represented by the difference in distance between the planes perpendicular to the centers of the contactfaces and the axis of the shaft 9.

hat we claim is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pivoted frame and a plurality of contact-shoes carried thereby and arranged with their operative faces at different distances from and in different operative planes relative to the pivotal axis of said frame and adapted to operate one only at a. time for different conditions.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pivotally mounted frame, means for effecting permanent electrical connection directly with said frame and an integral contact member removably secured to said frame and having a plurality of independent contact-faces adapted to operate one only at a time for different conditions.

3. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a support, a contact member having a plurality of contact-faces arranged at angles to one another and at unequal distances from said support, means for exerting equal pressure to hold said contact member with either of said faces in operative position.

4:. In a device of the character described, the combination of a contact member having a plurality of contact-faces arranged at angles to one another, means for exerting pressure to hold said contact member with either of said faces in operative position, and means for affording a yieldinglongitudinal resistance to said contact member.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a shoe having a plurality of contact-surfaces removably carried by said frame, a pivotal support for said frame, a socket connection secured to said frame and a contact-wire wound around said pivotal support and secured to said socket member.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pivotal support and an abutment having a plurality of faces, .a contact member having a plurality of shoes and a yieldingly-operated plunger movable with said contact member adapted to engage with any one of the faces of said abutment.

. 7.v In an electric contact device for third rails, the combination of a support, a contact member having a plurality of operative faces arranged at angles to one another, and at differcnt distances from said support, and means for yielding-1y holding said contact member with any one of said faces in operative position with equal pressure as desired.

8. In an. electric contact device for third rails, the combination of a support. a contact member having aplurality of operative faces arranged at angles tov one another but at different distances from said support, means for holding said contact member with any one of said faces alone in operative position, as desired, and means for automatically throwing said contact member into and out of position.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a supporting-beam, a pivotshaft, a contact member having two shoes arranged at angles to one another, an abutment having two faces at angles to one another corresponding to said shoes, a spring-operated means adapted to engage one of the faces of said abutment for holding said contact member in operative position.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a supporting member, an abutment havingtwo faces, a contactmember, a plunger carried by said member and adapted forengaging said abutment on either face.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a supporting member, an abutment having two faces, a pivot, a contact member, and a spring-operated plunger carried by said member and adapted for engaging said abutment on either face.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of a removably-mounted integral member having two contact-faces substantially at right angles to one another, and a spring for holding said member with either one of said contact-faces ready for and in operation, as desired.

13. In a system of the character described, the combination of a removably mounted member having two contact-faces substantially at right angles to one another, means for holding said member with either one of said contact-faces in operation, as desired, and automatic means for throwing said faces into and out of operation.

14:. In a system of the character described, the combination of a pivotally-mounted contact-shoe, a guide member adapted to cooperate with said shoe for forcibly throwing it into and out of operation as the contact-shoe moves relatively to said guide member, and spring-impelled means for holding said contact yieldingly but positively in'or out of operative position independently of said guide member.

15. In a system of the character described, the combination of a movable member carried by a part of the moving car and having a plurality of contact faces, conducting rails mounted by the side of the road-bed and having horizontal Contact-surfaces,a guide mounted by the road-bed adapted to automatically throw said contact into and out of operation, and means for holding said contact in or out of operative position independently of said guide member.

16. .In a system of the character described, the combination of a movable member carried by a part of the moving car and having a plurality of contact faces. conducting 4 rails mounted by the side of the road-bed and having horizontal.contact-surfaces, a spirally-arranged guide mounted by the road-bed adapted toautomatically throw said contactinto and out of operation, and means for holding said contact in or out of operative position independently of said guide member.

17 In a system of the character described, the combination of a movable member carried by a part of the moving car and having a plurality of contact faces, conducting rails mounted by the side of the road-bed and having horizontal contact-surfaces. a curved guide mounted by the road-bed adapted to automatically throw said contact into and out of operation, and means for holding said contact in or out of operative position independently of said guide member.

18. In a system of the character described, the combination of a movable member carried by a part of the moving car and having a plu- ICC rality of contact faces, conducting rails mounted by the side of the road-bed and having horizontal contact surfaces, a grooved guide mounted by the road-bed adapted to automatically throw said contact into and out of operation, and means for holding said contact in or out of operative position independently of said guide member.

19. In a system of the character described, the combination of a movable contact member, a plurality of stationary conducting-rails arranged out of alinement with one another, and automatic means for throwing said contact member into and out of electrical engagement with said rails for the purpose specified.

20. In a system of the character described, a plurality of contact-faces, independent conducting-rails arranged upon the road-bed and having horizontal contact-surfaces, and a guide member cooperating with one of said faces and arranged to shift the same from its operative position to its inoperative position and vice versa, and means for automatically holding said contact in or out of operative position independently of said guide member.

21. In a system of the character described, a plurality of contact-faces, independent conducting-rails arranged upon the road-bed and having horizontal contact-surfaces, a guide member cooperating with one of said faces and arranged to shift the same from its operative position to its inoperative position and vice versa and means for retaining said contact-face in either of said positions independently of said guide.

22. In a device for the purpose specified, the combination of a plurality of contact-shoes for independent contact, said shoes being movable, and means for automatically moving the same into and out or electrical contact position.

23. In an electric-traction system, the combination of a plurality of contactrails arranged at different distances from the running-track and at one side thereof, a contact apparatus arranged to be carried by a car for engaging said rails and means for positively disengaging one of the contacts of said contact apparatus from one of said rails.

24. In an electric-traction system, the combination of a plurality of contact-rails arranged at different distances from the running-track and at one side thereof, a contact apparatus arranged to be carried by a car for engaging said rails and means for moving said contact apparatus into or out of engagement with either of said contact-rails.

25. In an electric-traction system, the combination of a running-track with a plurality of contact-rails arranged in different parallel planes relatively to said running-track and to each other, contact apparatus arranged to be carried by a car and to contact with said rails, and a guide member adjacent to said runningtrack, part of said contact apparatus projecting and arranged to engage said guide member when said car is moving whereby said contact means may be disengaged from one of said contacts and engaged with the other automatically.

26. In an electric-traction system, the combination of a plurality of contact rails arranged parallel to the running-track and in difierent planes, a contact apparatus arranged to be carried by a car for engaging said rails and a guide for shifting said contact device into engagement with one or the other of said rails alternately, said guide constituting an electrical conductor.

27. In an electric-traction system, the combination of a plurality of contacting-rails arranged parallel to a running-track, a contact apparatus arranged to be carried by a car for engaging said rails and a guide for shifting said contact device out or the contact position relatively to one of said rails, said guide constituting an electrical conductor.

Signed at Hartford, Connecticut, this 1st day of November, 1904.

ELLSIVORTH SPERRY. DAVID FELIX BRODERICK. Witnesses:

ELIZABETH A. NOBLE, WARREN B. JoHNsoN. 

